Netherlands Antilles: Nature and Activities

When looking for a hotel in the Netherlands Antilles, it helps to first consider your travel interests. Are you more interested in nature watching, water sports and diving, or mountain vegetation and handicrafts? The following examples introduce different themes on Bonaire, Saba and St. Eustatius: coasts and wildlife, Mount Scenery and the “Lace Ladies,” and The Quill.

Bonaire: Beaches, birds and water sports

The beaches in Washington Slagbaai National Park are important nesting sites for all four sea turtle species found in the Caribbean. Birdwatching is also a defining feature: the park is considered one of the best places for it on Bonaire. Birds found there include the Caribbean flamingo and the endemic parrot known locally as “Lora.” The coast and birdlife offer different points of interest for travelers interested in nature.

Kayaking and snorkeling are offered as water sports activities in Washington Slagbaai National Park. Another coastal feature can be found between Boka Bartol and Boka Slagbaai: limestone terraces rise out of the water there. So, alongside these activities, a particular landform and stretch of coastline also come into focus. If you plan to visit this area, check current park access and conditions in advance.

Bonaire: Dive sites and important restrictions

There are 88 marked dive sites in Bonaire National Marine Park, along Bonaire’s west coast and around Klein Bonaire. Clear restrictions also apply: diving is prohibited in the Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander marine reserves, as well as at dive sites temporarily closed due to SCTLD. Check current conditions before planning, as the situation at the dive sites may change.

According to STINAPA, only experienced divers should head out for dives off Bonaire’s east coast. STINAPA also recommends undertaking these dives only with an experienced guide. The guidance thus distinguishes east-coast dives from simply navigating the marked sites off the west coast and around Klein Bonaire: experience and the recommended guide are explicitly part of planning for the east coast.

Saba: Mount Scenery and lace making

Mount Scenery on Saba is 877 meters high. Dense vegetation covers the summit and upper slopes; cloud forest dominates the top 50 meters. The description thus distinguishes the vegetated summit and slopes from the uppermost meters. In contrast to Bonaire’s coastal and marine themes, the focus here is on elevation and vegetation.

Lace making is another specific theme on Saba. Saba Tourism Information lists a Thursday meeting from 3 to 5 p.m. for the “Lace Ladies,” where lace is made. If you would like to include this in your travel plans, check in advance.

St. Eustatius: The name The Quill

On St. Eustatius, the name The Quill derives from the Dutch word “kuil,” meaning “pit,” and refers to the crater at its center. Here, a landscape feature can also be understood through the history of its name: the name refers directly to the crater. This gives it a different emphasis from Bonaire’s wildlife and water sports themes or the description of Mount Scenery’s elevation and vegetation on Saba.

Discover more destinations: Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Sint Eustatius, Turks and Caicos Islands, Saint-Barthélemy, Guatemala, Argentina.

Back to the main travel overview: South America.